No to cost sharing until the Welsh Assembly Government tackles serious issues

NFU Cymru has clearly and definitely rejected cost-sharing unless and until the Welsh Assembly Government demonstrates its willingness to tackle the serious issues facing the farming industry in Wales.

Dai Davies, President of NFU Cymru said, "The industry is being asked to consider picking up a greater share of the costs of disease control in return for a greater say in government policy, in a partnership with Government. However, at the present time the Assembly Government continues to put off any meaningful action on TB, to say nothing of any action on issues such as supermarket power, import controls and the burden of regulation. That is no basis whatsoever on which to enter any partnership."

Mr Davies continued, "To put it bluntly, a proposal to impose a disease levy to cover the cost of a foot and mouth outbreak for example, is a real slap in the face when the Government drags its feet on putting stringent and effective import controls in place to keep any disease out in the first place.

"As an industry we already bear significant costs in disease protection and if the Welsh Assembly is serious in its intention to forge a true partnership with our industry then we need to see clear evidence that this partnership is real and lasting. TB is a good example of this as while the Assembly puts off any action, the industry faces ever increasing costs and ever increasing restrictions."

Mr Davies concluded, "There must be a basis of trust and fair play in any partnership agreement, but at the moment we do not have that basis on which to consider any partnership."